Tullamore Harriers trio and McGlynn set to compete in Turkey

There will be plenty of Offaly interest in the SPAR European Cross Country Championships this Sunday, with three Tullamore Harriers athletes in addition to Mucklagh native Ann-Marie McGlynn part of the Ireland team.

Danielle Donegan of Tullamore Harriers is on the Ireland senior women's team along with McGlynn, who is a member of Letterkenny AC. In addition, Tullamore Harriers duo Laura Mooney and Ava O'Connor are part of the Ireland's U23 group.

Extending best wishes to its three athletes in the European Championships in Turkey, Tullamore Harriers AC said: "Being selected to represent Ireland at the European Cross Country Championships is an incredible achievement, and Danielle, Laura and Ava have made their club, families, and communities immensely proud. Their hard work, dedication, and talent have earned them this honour, and it’s a testament to their perseverance and the support of those around them."

Danielle Donegan, who is coached by Emmett Dunleavy, won bronze in the senior women’s race at the National Cross Country Championships in Fermanagh last month.

The 23-year-old Tullamore woman was the highest Irish finisher in the U23 race at the European Cross Country Championships in the last two years. She finished 8th in Brussels last year.

Danielle ran in the senior women’s race at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade earlier this year, finishing 65th.

Laura Mooney represented Ireland at two European Cross Country Championships (2021 and 2022). The Tullamore Harriers athlete finished 39th in the U20 women’s race in 2022.

The Cappincur native competed in the women’s 10,000m at the European Athletics Championships in Rome this summer

The 22-year-old is studying at Providence College where she is coached by Irishman Ray Treacy. Laura was part of the Providence team at the NCAA Cross Country who won bronze. She finished sixth in the 5000m at the European U20 Athletics Championships in 2021.

Ava O’Connor (21) represented Ireland at the European Team Championships and the European U23 Championships both in the 3000m Steeplechase in 2023.

A native of Emo, Co. Laois, Ava has been a member of Tullamore Harriers for several years. She ran in the U23 race at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels last year, finishing 63rd.

O’Connor is currently studying at Adams State University in Colorado and she is coached by Damon Martin. Ava finished 19th at the recent NCAA Division Two Cross Country Championships.

Ann-Marie McGlynn won the senior women’s race at the National Cross Country Championships in Fermanagh last month, her first national senior cross country title.

McGlynn last competed at the European Cross Country Championships in 2022 where she finished 31st, helping Ireland to a bronze team medal.

The Offaly native competed on the Irish team who won senior women’s bronze at the European Cross Country Championships in 2014 in Samokov, Bulgaria.

Living in Strabane, Co. Tyrone, McGlynn won the last two national marathon titles at the Dublin Marathon. In common with Danielle Donegan, she is coached by Emmett Dunleavy,

Overall, a 36-strong Irish team will compete at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships which take place in Antalya, Türkiye, on Sunday, December 8. The Irish team will join over 560 athletes who will represent 39 member federations at this year’s championships.

Antalya 2024 follows last year’s championships in Brussels which saw Ireland’s U20 team claim gold, with Nick Griggs securing individual bronze in the process.

The European Athletics Cross Country Championships will be broadcast live on the RTE Player and Eurovision Sport platform from 7.50am on Sunday.